#MyCauseMyCleats: Tom Savage inspired by cousin

On Sunday, Tom Savage will wear cleats to honor his teenage cousin who is currently battling leukemia.

A number of Texans players will be wearing custom cleats for the NFL’s second annual “My Cause, My Cleats” campaign in Week 13.

Tom Savage’s orange cleats decorated with surfboards are as bright as the little girl they will honor on Sunday. His 13-year-old cousin, Sydney Nihill, is battling leukemia for the second time in nearly three years. Savage’s chose orange for his cleats, like the ribbon for leukemia awareness, and designed his shoes to represent his cousin.

“It’s got little surfboards on it, that’s kind of her logo, and it says, ‘No one fights alone,’ Savage said. “She’s just my biggest idol in this world. She really is. If you met her, she’d come in here with a full smile on her face. She really puts everything in perspective. She’s a really tough girl and I couldn’t even imagine going through what she’s going through at that age.”

Savage checks in regularly with his cousin via FaceTime and Snapchat. She recently received a bone marrow transplant from her older sister, who will be attending Drexel University on a full basketball scholarship. Savage can’t help but be inspired by Nihill, her family, and the challenges that leukemia patients face daily.

“She really is just the most positive person in the world,” Savage said. “She’ll be in the hospital until Christmas and then when she beats it she’ll be out of it.”

Savage hopes to use his platform to spread awareness about leukemia and to support the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Leukemia Foundation. Twitter.com/DeepSlant

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